Final month, Biglaw agency Baker McKenzie filed a defamation lawsuit towards a former tax affiliate, Brooke Radford, alleging Radford made repeated allegations on social media and Reddit — some 100+ of them — falsely accusing a companion of sexually assaulting her and accusing the agency of overlaying it up. In accordance with that criticism, Radford mentioned she was assaulted by Maurice Bellan (additionally a plaintiff within the lawsuit) and was terminated by the agency when she turned down the companion’s advances.
The unique criticism lists the agency, Bellan, and 5 unnamed agency workers (the criticism alleged Radford made harassing and threatening feedback to them as effectively) as plaintiffs. Nonetheless, that criticism was rejected by the court docket, because the unnamed workers had not gotten permission to make use of pseudonyms.
However earlier this month, the criticism was refiled — itemizing solely the agency and Bellan as plaintiffs. And wow, it’s messy AF.
In accordance with the new complaint, Radford had a relationship with Bellan’s son, Maurice “Reece” Alexander Bellan. Reece ended the two-year relationship shortly earlier than Radford was fired from the agency — Baker McKenzie alleges Radford was fired for misusing the agency bank card, amongst different points — and, in keeping with the criticism, that confluence of occasions led Radford to focus on Bellan Sr. along with her false accusations.
Because the criticism states, “Upset with each outcomes, Ms. Radford sought retribution from the widespread denominator — Mr. Bellan — by deliberately spreading lies about him to destroy his popularity and the popularity of his agency.”
And this model of the criticism additionally maintains the allegations Radford product of sexual assault are “unequivocally false.”
“Mr. Bellan’s relationship with Radford was strictly skilled,” in keeping with the criticism. “Mr. Bellan by no means touched Ms. Radford or confirmed any romantic or inappropriate consideration towards her.”
The brand new criticism also tracks the change in allegations Radford made about Bellan Sr. because the “false statements about Mr. Bellan modified dramatically between late July and mid-September 2025.”
In July, Radford was allegedly making an “outrageous lie that he supplied her $50,000” to have his grandchild, and he or she claimed she was fired as a result of she “selected to not.”
By September, Radford “dramatically modified her false narrative, from Mr. Bellan bribing her to have his grandchild to him assaulting her and different girls and that Baker tried to cowl up his misconduct.”
Radford has not commented on the criticism.
A Baker McKenzie spokesperson mentioned, “We’re assured that our lawsuit will set up there is no such thing as a advantage to Ms. Radford’s allegations. We’ve tried to pursue a dialogue to attempt to deal with her purported issues, however she has not engaged with these efforts. The agency takes all allegations of harassment very significantly and is dedicated to offering a protected and inclusive working setting for all of our folks.”
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Legislation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the most effective, so please join along with her. Be at liberty to electronic mail her with any ideas, questions, or feedback and observe her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
